MAORI PROGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 143, 20 June 1938, Page 7

MAORI PROGRESS

A MEMORABLE NAME

SIR JAMES CARROLL

TRIBUTES TO GREAT LEADER

(By Telegraph—Press Association.)

WAIROA, June 19.

1, Memorable scenes were witnessed in •Wairoa-on Saturday, when Maoris numbering many hundreds, and Europeans also, gathered to do honour to the memory of Sir James Carroll, who ,will ever be remembered as a man who played a tremendous part in about a better relationship between Maoris and pakehas at a time jyhen that relationship was very much strained.

"l The occasion was the opening of the beautiful Takitimu carved meet-ing-house, which stands on the Wailaerere marae, and the Taihoa Hall; situated near the famous cabbage tree on the banks of the Wairoa River under which the beloved Timi Kara, born of a Maori mother and Irish father, first saw the light of day, both Buildings having been erected as memorials to the great Maori statesjnan and orator. Both ceremonies were performed by the Acting-Minis-•Cer of Native Affairs, the Hon. F. Langitone. The ceremonies were the culmination of nearly a week of celebrations in which Maoris from all parts of the Worth Island had been taking part.

The scene of the first ceremony was me Taihoa Hall at Te Uhi, where a large crowd had arrived early, awaiting the appearance of the Ministerial ■party and King Koroki. Hakas of welcome and the singing of waiatas -fiy parties of Maori girls and women •signalled the arrival of the official party. The proceedings were in charge of Sir. Apirana Ngata. These demonstrations were followed by an address of welcome by Puti fiahunga, a chieftainess of the NgatiKahungunu tribe, which was translated by the Minister's secretary, Mr. H. H. Balneavis. The Minister then opened the building with a golden key, £nd accompanied by King Koroki entered the hall.

r: Mr, Langstone said they were present to commemorate the work of one of New Zealand's greatest sons. Prom his mother he learned all there was to Know of the Maori, and from his father all there was to know of the pakeha. {Through his influence and knowledge Be was the giver of much good to Both Maori and pakeha. He was a ftiend of the people, and he had sanctiJed the name Taihoa; He saw the ©irge of the pakeha to get land. There y?as a deep wound in the breast of |he Maori. He therefore said "Taihoa" *-time was not ready. If he were here iioday he would say "Kiatere" which, in other, words, meant "Get on."

- Referring to the v name of the hall, Mr. Langstone said "taihoa" had become a sacred word with a vastly different meaning from the one the Maoris had : given it. "Timi Kara is asleep," lie added. "May he sleep long and peacefully, and may we take up the torch where he laid it down and rarry it higher. Let us go on ever forward, onward, upward, and sunWard. May we try to emulate the deeds of such men and play our part in welding the bond of friendship and brotherhood between, the Maori and i tile pakeha." " '' '

" The address was followed by further hakas, one of which, led by Sir Apirana Ngata, caused a great deal of amusement. It was known as the "petroleum haka," and demonstrated the attitude Of the Maoris of the East Coast towards the Government's petroleum policy as it affects the payment of royalties' to the Maoris. The ceremony at the waiherere marae began soon after the arrival of the Minister and King Koroki. A short service was conducted by Canon Williams, assisted by two Maori clergy. Sir Apirana Ngata called upon Hata Tipoki, chief of the Kahungunus, to address the gathering, which he did in Maori. THE LAYING OF "GHOSTS." . Sir Apirana then delivered a speech in which he described several ceremonies which had already been held a;t various times in. order to remove any tapus, or lay any ghosts. "The biggest ghosts in , the land today," he stated amid laughter, "have been created by ~ the Labour Government, aid it-is appropriate that we should hlave a representative of the Government here to lay the last ghost. We •vfill then have laid all the ghosts, political, religious, social, Maori, pakeha, Irish, Scotch, and otherwise."

; Mr. Langstone said there were no ghosts left and there was no need for either Maori or pakeha to worry much oh that score. He paid a tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata and added that with h(is great knowledge he could lay all ghosts, even the Labour Government. He praised the designers of the building, which would be commemorated to great inspiration. He hoped such work would be carried further so that tfie arts and crafts of the Maoris could bfe preserved. .

JSir James Carroll came and lived at a; time when he was most required. His name would live for ever not only because of what he tried to do for the Maori but also for what he did for the pakeha. No finer or more honourable nian ever lived. However, he was followed by some great men, including tjie late Sir Maui Pomare, Dr. Peter Buck, and Sir Apirana Ngata. One of the most pleasing features, however, ■was to see the younger people stepping out and facing up to the many problems of today.

The Minister dealt with the Government's Native policy and the scheme to get the Maori back on to the land, paying a tribute to Sir Apirana Ngata and those associated with him in the inauguration of the scheme. Within a few years the Maoris would all be occupying their own lands and would be setting a standard of living equal to that at present enjoyed by others. He believed that the greatest work before them was to make the home of the Maori such that it would be a pride to the Maori and the pakeha also, and it was his intention to see that the money placed in his care would be spent in such a way as to produce the greatest amount of good.